FO Updates Advice to Brits Visiting Turkey
The UK Foreign Office has issued a warning to Brits visiting Turkey, strongly advising that travellers should only buy alcohol from licensed outlets. This follows an outbreak of deaths and serious illnesses in the country after visitors have imbibed unregulated alcohol. The FO says that black market booze should be strictly avoided:
“In Turkey, including Ankara and Istanbul, people have died or suffered serious illness after drinking illegally produced local spirits and counterfeit bottles of branded alcohol. Buy alcoholic beverages only from licensed liquor stores, buy drinks only at licensed bars and hotels, avoid home-made alcoholic drinks, check bottle seals are intact, check labels for poor print quality or incorrect spelling.”
USAID Freeze Impacts Healthcare
The World Health Organisation warns that the Trump administration’s freeze on USAID will affect programmes designed to deal with HIV, polio, mpox and bird flu across 50 countries. Trump is also taking steps to remove America from the WHO, which is using emergency measures to continue to provide life-saving support and co-ordinate medicine sharing between nations. If you’re travelling to an affected country, check its official health advice in advance.
Don’t Forget to Replace Your EHIC With a GHIC
After Brexit, the GHIC card replaced the old EHIC, allowing British travellers abroad to access state medical care. However, some people still hold an EHIC if they applied before the rules changed. Keep in mind that these EHICs are set to expire in 2025, so be sure to replace yours with a GHIC to avoid potentially hefty medical bills. Travel insurance site Quotezone told the UK press:
“Anyone who renewed in 2020 as the legislation changed will have received some of the last EHICs available and will now, five years on, be ready for their first GHIC. Remember, the card is not a replacement for travel insurance. It allows you access to medically necessary treatment at the local rate of the country you are in – so it is important you have a relevant and accurate insurance policy to protect you before travelling, especially if you have a pre-existing condition.”
You can apply for a new card up to 9 months before your current card expires.
A UK GHIC is free and lasts for up to 5 years. The NHS warns that you should not rely on a GHIC to replace your travel insurance, as it is limited in scope (it applies to emergency care, for instance). Travel insurance will ensure that you are fully covered, particularly if you apply for repatriation cover in the case of a medical emergency.
You can apply for a GHIC on the NHS website (it’s best to avoid unofficial websites, as they often charge an unnecessary fee).
Norovirus Update
Norovirus is making the rounds in the UK, with over 1,000 patients currently hospitalized—if you’re visiting, be sure to check medical advice if you fall ill. Doctors advise isolating until 48 hours after symptoms of norovirus—such as vomiting and diarrhoea—have cleared. Wash your hands regularly, as hand sanitiser isn’t sufficient protection.
The illness isn’t confined to the UK. It’s manifesting across Europe as well, and the P&O cruise ship Iona has suffered a bad outbreak off the coast of Belgium, with passengers reportedly ‘dropping like flies.’ One told Sky news:
“What was also incredulous was the inability to buy or get hold of any medication onboard to help with the symptoms. Not one shop or medical centre onboard could supply guests with gastrointestinal suspension medication or replacement salts/fluid sachets.”
P&O say that anyone prevented from engaging in on-shore activities as a result of illness is entitled to a full refund.
Care Crisis for British Citizens in Spain
We have reported before on the care crisis in Spain among elderly Brits who rely on English-speaking health-related charities in the country. Volunteers are at an all-time low post Brexit, due to the residency restrictions, and the i Paper reported in late February that Age Concern on the Costa del Sol is down from 30 volunteers to 5. Michelle Greenwood, secretary of Age Concern, told the paper:
“People have come over and stayed in the English world as they have never entered the Spanish one. People hope nothing happens to them but when it does they struggle to cope.”
British Nurses in the UAE
According to recent reports in the press, record numbers of NHS nurses are leaving the UK, many heading to the UAE. At least 70 British nurses per day are relocating, and significant numbers are heading to the Emirates, Saudi Arabia or Qatar, as a result of staffing shortages, low pay, high volumes of patients and increased workloads back home, according to the National news site. Higher, tax-free salaries, good benefit packages and better working conditions are all proving an attraction for medical staff tired of facing the considerable challenges of the NHS. Hospitals in the Middle East are actively recruiting for UK staff.
Medacs Healthcare, a medical recruitment company which focuses on the Middle East, told the press that they are seeing an increased demand in nurses wanting to move abroad, although reasons for doing so also included burnout and retirement.
“Nurses and midwives also enjoy working in state-of-the-art facilities with the newest technology available and, more importantly, they benefit from a better work life balance and a supportive work environment.”
Relocation packages include flights and children’s education allowances, plus accommodation.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council say that they have received over 25,000 applications from nurses seeking to leave the UK, a number up by 580% from 2019. Applications since 2023 have increased by 59%. Most nursing staff head for the USA, followed by the Antipodes, Ireland, Canada, Romania, the Philippines and, as above, the Middle East.